Commissioner’s Corner

Greetings, I hope by the time you read this that you are enjoying an early spring. I’ll start with some news from our licensing division.

Licensing Snapshot

We recently expanded TLC UP, an online portal that lets you submit documents from wherever is most convenient for you. TLC UP now includes a new feature called “License Snapshot,” which lets you take a real-time view of your TLC license. You can see what your current license status is, when it expires, and when you need to take your next drug test. If you are a vehicle owner, you can check your base or SHL permit affiliation, and review your insurance information. If you are a medallion agent, you can see a list online of all the medallions you manage, and what their statuses are.

To try out this new feature, please visit www.nyc.gov/tlcup, and log in with your license number, the last 5 digits of your social security number or employer identification number, and the zip code for your mailing address.

We hope this brings more convenience to the licensing process. If you have any questions about this tool, don’t hesitate to email us at licensinginquiries@tlc.nyc.gov.

City Council Developments

You likely followed the City Council developments last month, when the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Elections dissolved the Committee on For-Hire Vehicles after derogatory remarks made by Council Member Ruben Diaz about the LGBTQ community in New York City. The countless contributions that LGBTQ residents make to New York City life is part of what makes our city great, and we are gratified that the Council took decisive action. The TLC has interacted with Council Member Diaz extensively because of the committee, and his comments come as no surprise after a year of experiencing his divisive behavior at many different public hearings.

Despite that behavior over the past year, the TLC and City Council worked together to pass crucial bills under the leadership of Speaker Johnson, including new laws on driver income and a limit on for-hire vehicles that are not wheelchair accessible. We greatly look forward to working closely with the Transportation Committee on the significant work ahead this year and are committed to making sure that legislation is not slowed because of this transfer. Whether we work together on Vision Zero, driver protection, accessibility or preventing service refusals, we know this will be a fruitful partnership. Good government leads to good policy.

Driver Pay Protection Rules

A new video on the TLC website explains the Driver Pay Protection rules, which went into effect last month, despite a legal challenge.

Our Driver Pay Protection rules went into effect on Feb. 1. App companies Lyft and Juno went to court to try to stop these rules. Although they did not get a judge to agree with them on their plea to have the rules stopped, the companies are continuing their litigation. So as of today, all four high-volume for-hire services – Uber, Lyft, Via, and Juno – will pay drivers according to the new TLC rules. We will keep you posted as the litigation proceeds.

We have a section on our website dedicated to driver pay protection, and it includes an explainer video of how the rules work. You can go to www.nyc.gov/taxiand select FHV Driver Pay Rules on the homepage to look at required pay rates and use our pay calculator.

If you drive one of the large four high-volume companies and don’t believe you were paid correctly for a trip, please email driverprotection@tlc.nyc.govwith a receipt or screenshot that illustrates your concern, and any other information you think will help us investigate.

Until next time, drive like your family lives here!

Article by Meera Joshi

Meera Joshi is the Chair/Commissioner for the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission.